Ceri Jones: 10 years and 1000 concerts

Fri 16 Aug 2013

Our Projects Director, Ceri Jones, is leaving the OAE for new adventures today (insert very sad expressions from the office team). Here’s a little last blog from her, with some of her highlights from her time with us. Ceri – you will be much missed!

Twin cities: ice sculptures, Bach and Biggles

Mon 26 Jan 2009

Today it’s official – this is the coldest place in the USA at -20C.

On Thursday we shared a concert with the St Paul Chamber Orchestra, at Temple Israel in Minneapolis. We played Mozart, CPE Bach and Haydn in the first half and then they played a Shostakovich chamber symphony. Afterwards our hosts held a reception for us at Stella’s Fish Cafe where we were given a wonderful buffet meal and a real welcome. We presented them with a signed poster and a copy of the OAE’s 21st birthday book – it’s the SPCO’s 50th anniversary this year so we are still adolescent by comparison!

Twin cities update

Fri 23 Jan 2009

We’ve been here for four days now, and are finding our way around. It is not as cold as it was the previous week, so the large amount of clothing that we all brought with us has been sitting in our wardrobes. However, it is forecast to be much colder this weekend, so maybe I will be able to treat you to my impression of the Michelin Man soon.

We’ve been rehearsing with Rachel Podger at the St Pauls’ Chamber Orchestra Center, which is inside a beautiful 1920s building a couple of blocks from the hotel. It also contains an old fashioned post office, a mens’ outfitters and a pet shop!

Yesterday we spent a day rehearsing at Wooddale Church. The audiences at American churches seem to be about as big as the ones we get for concerts, judging by the size of the car park! The church is well outside the city, in the middle of a lovely snowy landscape and a freeway system. I went out walking and saw a large hawk in a tree, and very little else. Here are some pictures.

Today we give our first concert, in Minneapolis. I’ll report on this tomorrow.

Journey to the twin cities

Thu 15 Jan 2009

Yesterday was a day of firsts for me. First long haul plane journey, first time experiencing jet lag, first trip out of Europe, first trip to the USA, first Visa, first time visiting a place where it’s normal for the temperature to be less than 0 degrees! So as you can imagine I was quite anxious about the trip…!

We’ll we’ve been here 24 hours now, and as the first rehearsal is this evening my first blog entry will focus on the non-musical elements of being on this tour.

The journey itself went actually very smoothly. North West Airlines were great. They were very happy to take the double bass in the hold – with no arguments! There was a great array of films to watch on the 8 hour journey (I managed 3 and a half, 2 of which were well worth watching) and as the plane was not very busy there was plenty of room to stretch out. I can’t say that the food we were served was anything to write home about so I won’t!